Interlocking means for boxes



Deco J. G. INTERLOCKING MEANS FOR BOXES Filed Feb. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l D66. 1942- J. G. HUYE 2,304,362

INTERLOCKING MEANS FOR BOXES Filed Feb. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSAP/l 6.19075,

' operating member being so Patented Dec. 8,1942

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTEBLOCKING MEANS FOR. BOXES Joseph G. Huyc, New; Orleans, La. Application February 26, 1941, Serial No. 380,147

1 Claim.

This invention relates to interlocking means for maintaining the several parts or portions of cardboard, pasteboard, or other resilient sheet material members in secure assembled relation, and has particular reference to such interlocking means as applied to cardboard boxes or containers.

The primary objects of the invention are: to provide such interlocking meanswhich are particularly adapted for application to a box to lock one or both end closures, thereon in such manner as to eliminate the necessity for the usual twine or gummed paper frequently required for this purpose; to provide such interlocking means wherein the various cooperating interlocking portions are disposed in edge to edge relationship or abutment throughout most of the lateral extent of one of said portions; to

provide such interlocking means wherein the locking tongue of one of the cooperating members is disposed longitudinally through a lateral slot in the other of said members in engagement with the interior surface or face thereof to be resiliently pressed or offset inwardly in such a form of interlocking means a series of cuts intersecting the locking slot of one member, the leading edge of the locking tongue of its co- I shaped relative thereto as to facilitate insertion of said tongue through said slot; to provide another form of such interlocking means wherein the locking tab or panel of the locking tongue is fixedly secured to the inner face thereof; to providea novel highly eiiicient flange corner interlocking construction for the box end closures or tray members; and, to provide a box or container embodying the hereinbefore mentioned features and advantages which may be manufactured economically on a mass production 'basis from vention, as by law required. However, I recognize that my invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and that the different looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3, a section on the line 3-4 of Figure 2,

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4, a. fragmentary perspective view of one end of the box showing the end closure or cover just prior to assembly on the box body;

Figure 5, a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6, a fragmentary plan view of a blank from which the end closures of the box may be formed;

Figure '7, a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figure 2, of a box employing a modified form of interlocking means;

Figure 8, a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9, a detail perspective view illustrating the corner construction of the box end closure or tray;

Figure 10, a fragmentary section through the box end closure or tray-illustrating the corner construction thereof;

Figure 11, a, sectional view on the line il-li of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 12, a view similar to Figure 9 illustrat ing an end closure .in partially assembled or erected condition.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, my invention has been illustrated therein in its preferred applicationto a box or container to lock the various parts or members thereof together, the box parts or members being of pasteboard, cardboard, or other resilient sheet material and comprising i a tubular box body A, preferably of polygonal cross-section having fiat longitudinally extending side walls i; a box top or upper end closure designated B in its entirety, disposed on the upper end of body- A and having one or more locking tongues 4 depending longitudinally therefrom through lateral locking slots 3 formed in the side walls of box body A to lock said top thereon; and a bottom or lower closure 0 which may, if desired, be

identical with the end closure B and locked to the body A in the same manner thereas, though it is not essential that the interlocking means of my invention be embodied in both of said end closures B and C.

Although I have shown only two oppositely disposed locking tongues i and cooperating slots 3 for each end closure B and C respectively, I wish to make it clear that any number of such suitably distributed locking tongues and their cooperating slots 5 and 3 respectively may be employed to lock the various members of the box together, and one or more such interlocking meansrmay be employed on each side of the box if desired.

The preferred form of box body A illustrated in the accompanying drawings is of rectangular cross-section having the laterally extending locking slots 3 disposed on opposite sides at either end thereof to cooperate with the locking tongues 5 of the end closures B and C respectively. If desired, and for the purpose of facilitating insertion of its respective locking tongue therethrough, each said locking slot 3 may be intersected by a pair of relatively spaced longitudinally extending cuts 5 defining between them a yieldable inwardly bendable tab 7 attached along its upper side only to the box body A. Preferably the upper and lower edge portions or end edges of said body -A are provided with the usual integral inwardly folded flaps 9 serving to reinforce the box side walls i against inward bending, and being particularly useful in this connection during insertion of the locking tongues d through their respective slots 3 to prevent yielding of the entire box side i when the tongues d are pressed into engagement therewith to cause local inward yielding of the box sides i immediately adjacent said slots 3,- in the manner hereinafter described.

Inasmuch as the end closures B and C of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, and their respective cooperating portions of box body A, are identical except for being in relatively inverted positions it will suflfice to describe only one of such end closures, namely the upper end closure B, and its adjacent end of body A in detail.

The end closure or cover or top B comprises a flat web 2 of thesame shape as the box crosssection, disposed across and resting on the end edges of the box body A and normally maintained thereon by means of a marginal flange which may consist of a number of downwardly turned flange sections it connected-pr interlocked at their respective adjacent ends in any suitable manner, the two locking tongues i in this construction preferably-being formed integral with one or more of said flange sections i6. Although the foregoing is the preferred construction of end closure B, it is not'essentialto have the flange ends connected as described.

With the construction of end closure B illustrated, said closure may be conveniently formed from a blank such as shown in Figure 6 wherein the flange sections iii are connected along fold or score lines 20 to the main web 2 of said end closure, to be turned down at right angles thereto and have their adjacent end edge portions connected or interlocked in suitable fashion. For this latter purpose I prefer to utilize a novel and highly eiiicient arrangement of interlocking means wherein each adjacent pair of flange section ends will comprise a slotted end and a lapped end respectively. Thus each said slotted locking portion 30 carried at its free end, said interlocking portion Bil being formed on its side adjacent the main portion 28 with an undercut locking edge 32 extending at such an angle that in the erected condition of the end closure B said edge 32 will extend parallelto and be in registry with its respective cooperating locking slot M.

In erecting or forming the =completely assembled end' closure or tray B from the blank shown in Figure 6, the flange sections '15 will be turned or bent down along their respective score lines 20 at right angles to the web 2, each lapped end 28 will be folded at right angles along its score line 22 to lie flush against the adjacent slottedend of its cooperating flange section it, and during such folding movement the interlocking portion 30- of said lapped end will be pressed inwardly against the yielding tab" 38 between slots 24 and 26 and inserted 'upwardly through the slot 26, the inwardly yielding tab 7 a 3% serving by its action to facilitate such insertion. It may be seen that, as thus disposed, the

' upwardly projecting interlocking portion 30 of the lapped end will be in engagement with the inner face of its cooperating slotted end above the entry slot '26 thereof, and that the part of said portion 30 overhanging the undercut locking edge 32 will be pressed resiliently inwardly and offset from the main portion 28 to such an extent that said locking edge 32 will be in substantial lengthwise abutment or engagement with the lower edge of locking slot 26, thus preventing accidental withdrawal of said interlocking portion 30.

'As hereinbefore mentioned any desired number of locking tongues 5 may be formed on the end closure B, these preferably being carried by and formed integral with the flange sections it so that in the erected condition of the end closure B said tongues t will extend in a longitudinal direction.

In the preferred form of the locking tongues d shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, each said tongue 4 consists of a medial or main portion 6 attached to its respec e fla e t a i s uppe end and adapted to be disposed in a longitudinal direction through the medial portion ofits respective cooperating locking slot 3 in the box body A; and preferably a pair (though only one might suffice) of laterally projecting wings or tabs 8 integral with said main or medial portion 8 on laterally opposed sides thereof. Each of said tabs or wings 8 is provided with a laterally extending rear locking edge i9 tocooperate with and abut against an opposed inwardly offset edge of its respective locking slot 3 in box body A. If desired, the leading edges l2 of the respective wings or tabs 3 may be formed so as to slope rearwardly from the leading edge M of the medial portion 6 in order to facilitate insertion of the tongue 6 into its respective slot 3 in the manner hereinafter described, said leading edge M of the medial portion 6 being of the same or slig y less lateral extent than the inwardly bendable tab 7 of slot 3.

Each locking tongue 4 is of somewhat less overall lateral extent than its cooperating locking slot 3 of box body A so as to permit longitudinal insertion therethrough without first folding the wings 8 or other parts of said tongue inwardly. Also obviously each locking tongue 4 of the end closure B, and its cooperating locking slot 3 in the box body A are so positioned as to be in lateral registry with each other so that'- the tongues 4 may be inserted longitudinally through their respective slots 3 during assembly of the box body A and end closure B.

In assembling the end closure B on body A' .by placing the closure or tray B in registry with the end of body A and pressing it down thereover in a longitudinal direction, the respective oppositely disposed locking tongues 4 may be pressed inwardly so that the medial leading edge portion I4 of each tongue 4 will engage the tab' 1 of its respective locking slot 3, causing said tab 1 to bend inwardly to permit the insertion of said tongue 4 into the'box interior in engagement with the inner face thereof. It may be seen that once the leading edge [4 is inserted through said slot 3 the inserted portion of said -tongue 4 will act as a guide for the remaining portion thereof during continued insertion. Further, it may be seen that during such continued insertion the rearwardly sloping leading edges I! of wings 8 will exert a wedge action serving to progressively laterally spread apart the edges of slot 3 so that the widest portion of said tongue can be received therein.

After each tongue 4 has been inserted in its respective slot 3, and the closure B and box body A are completely assembled, it will be seenthat the medial portion 6 of the locking tongue 4 remains in slot 3 and serves to spread apart the medial edge portions thereof in such a way that the box wall portion on the side of slot 3 remote from the end closure B below said slot 3 is maintained resiliently outwardly bowed or offset, while the box wall portion on the upper side of slot 3 adjacent end closure B is maintained resiliently slightly inwardly bowed or offset. In addition, the locking tongue 4 interiorly of the box I closure B is equally applicable to the bottom or the same sumciently to furnish visible evidence of such tampering.

Also, with such construction wherein the flange l8 extends beyond the locking slots 3 it may be seen that even though the cover or end closure B islocked on the'box body A by only a single tongue 4 on one side of the closure B, where it is attempted to lift the unlocked side of the closure B or where the same tends to become accidentally displaced, the closure will pivot slightly about the edge of slot 3 where it engages the locking tongue 4 and the edges of flange- I will be pressed into engagement with the box sides to resist suchmovement.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the foregoing detailed description of the top or end lower end closure C, due consideration bein taken of the fact that said closures are identical and cooperate with the box body A in the same manner except that they are in relatively inverted I positions. 7

. In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 the construction and operation are the same as in the preferred form hereinbefore described except that the laterally extending wings 3 of the preferred form of locking tongue 4 are eliminated, and in their place is provided a locking panel or tab 30 formed with a'lateral upper locking edge I00 and secured to the inner face of the main portion 60 of the looking tongue 40 by suitable means such as staples III or by gluing or pasting to form a double thickness tongue 40. As in the preferred form,

the modified locking slot 300 of the box bodyA, adapted to receive and cooperate with the modified form of locking tongue 40, is of greater lateral extent than said tongue 40 to permitlongitudinal insertion of said tongue therethrough without folding. If desired, the box body A may be formed with a longitudinal slot 50 medially intersecting the locking slot 300 so as to permit greater flexibility or inward yielding of the body A above said slot 300 during insertion of the locking tongue 40 therein, thus facilitating such insertion.

is maintained in engagement with the inner sur- 3 face of said outwardly bowed portion of the box beneath slot 3, and the laterally extending wings 8 thereof are pressed resiliently inwardly by such engagement so that the locking edges l0 thereof are in edge to edge abutment with the opposed offset upper edge of slot 3, thus firmly and efficiently securing the box body A and end closure B in assembled relation.

Due to the large lateral extent of edge to edge abutment or engagement between the wings I! and edge of slot 3 it may be seen that the interlock thus formed is of considerable strength and will enable the box to be used for shipment of various articles and materials without the neces sity of additional fastening means such as the twine or gummed tape generally employed.

As an added feature, the locking tongues 4 may be set into their respectivefianges IS in such a manner that in the assembled condition of the several parts of the box, the flanges H5 at each end of the box will extend longitudinally beyond, and cover the ends of, the tongue receiving slots 3 of body A, thus enhancing the appearance of the box and increasing the inaccessability of the cooperating interlocking tongue 4 and slot 3 from the exterior of the box so as to provide a box which cannot be opened or tampered with without tearing or marring In the assembled relation of the tongue 40 in slot 300 the locking edge I00 is disposed in the same lateral plane as slot 300, and the locking tongue 40 is resiliently pressed inwardly by engagement with the box wall beneath the slot 300 so that the locking edge 400 of tab is in locking engagement with the opposed upper edge of slot 300 throughout its entire length.

This is a somewhat stronger, through perhaps less economical construction than the preferred form, and accordingly is particularly adapted for use in containers adapted to carry unusually heavy loads or materials, and which may accordingly be constructed of extra heavy material.

I claim:

A sheet material box end closure comprising a main web and a plurality of downwardly turned flange sections carried thereby, the adjacent ends of each adjacent pair of said sections being connected and comprising a slotted end and a lapped end respectively, said slotted end being formed with a lap receiving slot, and a locking slot disposed below and at an acute angle to said lap receiving slot to converge therewith section, and an upwardly projecting inter-locking portion carried at the free end of said main portion and formed on its side adjacent said main portion with an undercut locking edge parallel to said locking slot, said interlocking portion being disposed upwardly through said lap receiving slot in engagement with the inner face of said slotted end to be pressed inwardly thereby so that the locking edge is in substantial lengthwise abutment with the lower edge or said locking slot, said positioning tongue yielding inwardly and by pressing in opposition to the pressure of said inner face of the slotted end serving to maintain the interlocking portion at all times in proper position. v

JOSEH G. HUYE. 

